By Keshav Pariat
SHILLONG: The manifestos of all the political parties while highlighting major sops to the people at large have failed to mention what measures they will initiate to empower the differently abled.
The Shillong Times tried to contact several leading candidates in the upcoming elections for their views on the status of people with disabilities in the state and how they will aim to improve their status, but without success. The candidates did not return the calls.
But a study of several party manifestoes turned up little in the way of a plan to uplift the disabled.
While the Congress manifesto does highlight some of what has been done during the term of the last government, for example, the three percent reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities, there is little on what they will do in the next five years.
There is also a small mention of the disabled in the NPP manifesto, but absolutely no reference to them at all in the UDP, BJP or NCP literature.
“With Assembly elections just over the horizon there seems to be little concern, however, for the disabled, who the executive director of Bethany Society, Carmo Noronha describes as “basically a forgotten lot”.
According to Noronha, the greatest barrier is attitude, not physical barriers.
“Once the attitude changes then you are ready to take the decision to change physical barriers. But in terms of politics, we are still considered as objects of charity. Politicians are part of society, so society needs to change.
Various aspects of everyday life need improvement, according to Noronha and he was backed up in this by Bertha Dkhar, a member of Bethany’s board, and Sajjad M Ali, co-founder of Dwar Jingkyrmen.
Referring to the so-called beautification project at Khyndailad, Noronha asked, “Has anybody come and said, ‘can we take into consideration people in a wheelchair? Will a person in a wheelchair go into a shopping mall?'”
He went on to state that when the SPTS bus system was in its planning stage, he was promised that some of the buses would be wheelchair accessible, but nothing has yet been done. Ali noted the footpaths of the city, raised to such a height that makes it difficult for even non-disabled people to use.
Among other issues raised by Noronha and Dkhar is the difficulty that the disabled face in gaining admission into some schools and employment in the private sector.
The state of healthcare also needs improvement, most urgently in rural areas. “We don’t judge a house by its living room, but by its kitchen and backyard,” Dkhar explained. “It’s the same with India. We don’t judge by the cities but by what happens in the rural areas.”
And corruption, something that affects nearly every part of society, is a major issue.
Asked what they would like to see prioritized in the next Assembly’s term, all three gave similar answers, calling on a look inward by politicians and society.
Noronha calls for a “mainstreaming” of disability. To stop treating people with disabilities as a charity case but see them as part of society who must have their human rights fulfilled. He also called for MLAs to promise to conduct a detailed survey of people with disabilities in their constituency.
He promised that if legislators do this, their “eyes will be opened”.
“An inclusive society benefits all, not just persons with disabilities,” he added, referring to the fact that the elderly and pregnant mothers, for example, would benefit from better physical accessibility. “Why doesn’t the government ensure that there is universal design in all buildings? Please think mainstream,” is his plea.
His challenge to MLAs is to promise to pledge three percent of their funds for removing barriers that the disabled face.
Dkhar added, “If a leader breaks barriers, others will follow. It’s important that we vote for people with a vision, with a certain calibre and with compassion.”
What Noronha says must come after is a universal approach to helping people with disabilities. Individual politicians have helped Bethany Society – and Dwar Jingkyrmen – and may provide help in individual cases in their own constituencies, but these will not help the majority of people with disabilities.
Beyond the realms of politics, funding and bureaucracy, there is also a simpler step that anyone can take. “All you need is a little desire in your heart,” Ali says of what he would like to see as a priority. “Treat a disabled person as a fellow human being.”